The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-16
it all!' slipped through the gate, and was gone
The clot was absorbed at last; the cure was COM

plet0.
Possibly it was the samo woman who shipped
that night on an outward bound vessel as stew
ardess, took her wages in the American port,
purchased fresh endorsements with feverish
haste, and bought railway ticket for the town
where Helena Vance was born and had lived her
happy life.
How slow was the trainl No lively tune
could its motion make in her mind; the wheels
clamored and clattered only to the movement
of a funeral march. She could neither eat,
nor drink, nor sleep. Ten years. 1t was an
dear old auntsS Who had taken care Of the
poor things in all those years9 How they must
have missed her. their, darling! How he must
have missed her, his other self! Robbed OF ten
years Of happiness condemned to ten years Of
solitude and suffering-if, indeed. he had not
found the refuge he had always looked for in
her loss, the refuge of the grave, himself. How
she would work to atone to him, to make
him happy, IN all their remaining years. with
redoubled happiness, as if the whole tide that
should have belonged to the years that were lost
in that black gap of Inconsistencies flowed back
With ten times repeated strength and depth.
| Oh, il he only lived! She longed unspeakably
once moro to teel his arms about her his kisses on
her mouth TO look into his eyes and to hear his
| voice Ten years could not have changed him
so mueh. they had hardly changed her at all,
| with that long slumber 81 the brain. And once
moro to have that shelter. that support that
care, that worshipl Her heart beat 50 it choked
hope, with Joy. And yet--if she-sLould-meet
Leonard with smile on his face
] Five o'clock of gray afternoon when
woman, in a long cloak and a blue hood that
nearly hid her face. walked slowly up the hill-
side to Cragsnest as il the throbbing of her heart
made it barely possible to move.
The place had changed little. The house
and gardens we're the same-yes, there were the
roses, ''their blossoms will seem to be your
! BREATH" she said. Somebody cared for them,
| then. "Oh, roses, what happiness you witnessed
once, what happiness you shall again. she said.
But still there was . changs.yes, it was the
being cut away, and piles Of eofd-wood and
| great logs made confusion OF the place, IS if,
instead Of being finished home century old,
It were new clearing ip the forest It made
downs she felt as If that would not happen if
| Leonard lived there STILL the spot should be
sacred 10 him with memory Of her. What was
| it he had once said2 There shall be NO change
here 80 long as you are the pole-star OF my be-
ing" What was it she had answered hint "The
earth swings to new pole-stars."
She went round to door in the gable, totter-
ing at last. and, leaning on the jamb moment.
she pulled her big hood about her face, ana
knocked and went into room where three old
ladies sat. Nothing in the room had been moved
from it's original place-paper, and pictures, and
carpets were only a little faded-that was all.
| A pale old woman slumbered In her chair in the
hebetude Of age from which she never walked;
| one read novel in state OF bland conteptment
and well-being and one, the lively, little. bus
Ting Aunt Jane. was busy with work basket
and humming pleasantly to herself the while.
If the three had missed their niece in the begin
ming, they were reconced by this and lived a
happy, easy life cared for in sufficient comfort.
evidently.
LET you restar chirruped Aunt Jane. "Tobe
sure my good woman. Take the rocking chair.
You see, this is the house of rest glaLcing at
her sisters. ''Are you going. far~
mot far" was the low reply.
'From the neighberhood hereF
UI ua0d to live here once. long ago, long ago,
"Ah. indeed" said Aunt Jane. viewing the hole
she to darn on her stretched fingers. "Then
You find the placed changed, suppose
"Weii, il is changed. And it's pity, too
But they have been cutting down the trees ever
Since Leonard married again. He found il
profitable, and having two families to sup
port"
'.Is-is-s Leonard married againl' How
the voice shook! 1t was only chastity whisper
You knew him, then2 Oh, yes long since
Let's see-fve years, think. His son is quito
lad. He
''And he is the ono that would not live il hi
wife died2" said the other with sudden hyster
ical laugh that made Aunt Betty look up from
the pages of her "Sea- side. And then the worlt
was going out-no. no; she must not. she would
not lose her selfcoptrol!
Aunt Jane's needle was suspended in the air
moment With surprise, and then, slow to taxi
offense or to imagine evil. she answered. ever
slthoueh to unheeding ears: Eyes. see 20,
knew him pretty we'll. But he mourned be-
enough. He m6urned her enough And then
, you see, he was a man. ! can't Say anything
we couldn't you see. He takes sare of ys, Au'
hsa ssp5 m Vain
peated the words before the sound came to fl
thcm. did he-sdid he-rnsrry Louisa Dane2
Louisa Dane, indeed He married littl
pale, thin woman that he met in the cars sic
8 and weak, With air.cushions. and rugs. and hot
water bottles; and there was great accident, an
this miserable little creature who could not tax
a care of herself began to take care of everybod
rather fetched him. said poor Aunt Jane, IN
t conscious Of her slang. ut made him fond G
0 her. and by and by-he was SO sad and solitar
s The went and brought her home. He didn
r undertake to bring her here!r said Aunt Jane
. mphatically. ''He isn't the same Leonard
: But they seem happy, and, as said. they hav
j q little lad"
Q ''The little lad" murmured voice Of infinit
{ sadness
r But for my part" snapped aunt Jane, Hallway
think there's a good deal of makebelieve tia
). sort Of sick person -can't button her own boo
d one year, and competent housekeeper the mex
i Yes. Leonard is married again. and very con
# Portable. Where does he liyer guessing rattle
v than hearing the words. Down town, near tn
a pos.ofhce. But he comes up once month or s
y to settle accounts and give directions. He keep
:, end gate and goes in there and comes out to sc
t as by and by" continued the garrulous old sou
t for the visitor allowed her to run on.
n She was pulling herself together now. Tt
Q shock was over. Her brain seemed to reel, as
n she put forth all her strength to save herself
the fall down black and unknown chasn
It Only now grim fancy crossed her Of LeoEal
r living down in the town, getting all the sma
n ways Of the townspeople, living .cheaply, wit
n closed doors. crested in the small gossip anna
10 pleasures. g II ,ursuits of the town. forgettn
,r the old stu. g., search into yelled secrets
r. Science, I'll, lat name once possible, Il
d mighty aim half reached Andxtheir life up
10 the hill had been so free and fine. And it W,
n dust and ashes. All, why had some fire frol
u heaven not fallen and reduced the place itself
10 the same ashes that its happiness had foun
o. For herself
it She paust not think of herself yet-that won